Biography

Randy FichtnerQuarterbacks Coach

Randy Fichtneris in his seventh season coaching the Steelers’ quarterbacks, after spending three seasons as the team’s wide receivers coach. Fichtner was hired by Head Coach Mike Tomlin on January 29, 2007.

In Fichtner’s six seasons (2010-15) as the team’s quarterbacks coach, Ben Roethlisberger has totaled some very impressive numbers. Over that span, he has thrown for 23,693 yards with 145 touchdowns for a passer rating of 95.7, all of which rank in the top-10 in the NFL. Roethlisberger has also been selected to three Pro Bowls in that span (2011, 2014-15).

Randy FichtnerQuarterbacks Coach

Randy Fichtneris in his seventh season coaching the Steelers’ quarterbacks, after spending three seasons as the team’s wide receivers coach. Fichtner was hired by Head Coach Mike Tomlin on January 29, 2007.

In Fichtner’s six seasons (2010-15) as the team’s quarterbacks coach, Ben Roethlisberger has totaled some very impressive numbers. Over that span, he has thrown for 23,693 yards with 145 touchdowns for a passer rating of 95.7, all of which rank in the top-10 in the NFL. Roethlisberger has also been selected to three Pro Bowls in that span (2011, 2014-15).

In addition, Roethlisberger has a completion percentage of 64.7, has thrown 180 passes for at least 25 yards, and he boasts a regular season record of 53-30 during that span.

Despite missing four games due to a knee injury in 2015, Roethlisberger led the NFL in passing yards per game (328.2), and he set a single-season team record by completing 68.0% of his passes. On December 20, 2015, Roethlisberger completed 40 passes against Denver at Heinz Field to become the first quarterback in NFL history to have two 40-completion games in a career.

In Roethlisberger’s absence, Fichtner had to prepare quarterbacks Mike Vick and Landry Jones, both of which never started a game for Pittsburgh. Under Fichtner’s guidance, Vick and Jones helped lead the team to a 3-2 record in the five games Roethlisberger did not start.

Roethlisberger had a season for the ages in 2014, as he set numerous single-season team records, including attempts (608), completions (408), passing yards (4,952) and 300-yard games (9). Roethlisberger also tied his single-season record with 32 touchdown passes (2007) and finished tied for the NFL lead (Drew Brees, New Orleans) in passing yards.

In a Week 8 game vs. Indianapolis in 2014, Roethlisberger set the single-game team record in completions (40), passing yards (522) and passing touchdowns (6). With his 522-yard performance, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 500 yards in multiple games in a career. The following week, Roethlisberger threw six more touchdowns vs. the Baltimore Ravens to give him an NFL record 12 touchdown passes in a two-game span.

In Fichtner’s final year as wide receivers coach in 2009, the Steelers had two 1,000-yard receivers (Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes). In 2008, Ward topped 1,000 yards (1,043) for the fifth time in his career, and Holmes was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII after he caught nine passes for 131 yards, including the game-winning touchdown reception with 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Fichtner, who instituted the spread offense at Memphis, was an integral part of the Tiger football team for six years. He was hired in 2001 to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and his offense re-wrote the Memphis record book for six seasons.

Fichtner spent four years (1997-2000) at Arkansas State University. He arrived in Jonesboro as the quarterbacks coach in the spring of 1997 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in August of 1997. During his tenure with the Indians, Fichtner worked with Cleo Lemon, who set virtually every Arkansas State passing and total offense record.

Prior to joining the staff at Arkansas State, Fichtner spent three years at his alma mater, Purdue University, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 1994-96. His original stint with Memphis came from 1990-94, when he coached wide receivers and quarterbacks. During his tenure, Fichtner worked with future NFL All-Pro Isaac Bruce.

Fichtner worked as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Purdue (1985-86) and at the University of Michigan (1986-87), before serving as a volunteer coach at the University of Southern California in 1988. He landed his first full-time position in 1989 as the tight ends coach at UNLV, and worked for the Rebels for one season before going to Memphis.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Fichtner was a standout football player at Meadville Area Senior High School in Meadville, Pa. He played defensive back at Purdue and graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in health promotion.

His father, Ross, played safety for the Cleveland Browns (1960-67) and the New Orleans Saints (1968). Ross saw action in 106 career games, and he recorded 27 interceptions for 581 yards, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Ross was named second-team All-NFL in 1966 and was a member of the 1964 Browns NFL Championship team.

Fichtner is married to the former Jennifer Parker of Covington, Tenn., and the couple has three children, a son, Nathaniel Ross, and two daughters, Shelby Brooke and Kirby Lynn.